With the opening of the new Plymouth Harbor Wellness, Sarasota’s premier continuing care retirement community features one of the most comprehensive wellness programs in the region and has the distinction of being one of the few communities that includes residents and employees together in a universal culture of wellness. Evolving research shows that activities in seven dimensions – physical, intellectual, social, vocational, environmental, emotional, and spiritual – are the key to aging people keeping their health, their mental skills, and their quality of life.1 Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay has broadened this view to embrace these seven dimensions of wellness in programming for its staff as well as residents.

The wellness dimensions overlap and coordinate to provide rich environments for living. Seen in this light “Wellness” becomes a framework for serving the wants and needs of a person engaged in life. The Council on Active Aging defines the seven dimensions as follows:

Emotional
Feelings are the lens through which people view the world, and the ability to be aware of and direct one’s feelings helps to create balance in life. Coping with challenges and behaving in trustworthy and respectful ways signal emotional wellness, attributes that can be encouraged through peer counseling, stress management, humor/laughter, and personal histories.

Intellectual/Cognitive
Engaging in creative pursuits and intellectually stimulating activities is a proven approach to keeping minds alert and interested. There are many ways to stay intellectually active, including taking college courses, journaling, painting or joining a theater company, and challenging oneself with games and puzzles.

Physical
The goal of living independently is one shared by many people, and physical wellness is necessary to achieve this. Lifestyle choices that can maintain or improve health and functional ability include engaging in physical activity, choosing healthy foods with adequate nutrition, getting adequate sleep, managing stress, limiting alcohol intake, not smoking, making appointments for check-ups, and following medical recommendations.

Professional/Vocational
Work that utilizes a person’s skills while providing personal satisfaction is valuable for society as well as the individual. Participating in the paid and unpaid workforce means maintaining or improving skills, and helping others. Older adults contribute to society as experienced professionals, caregivers, mentors, teachers, and volunteers. Leisure-time vocations in the arts and through hobbies maintain vocational skills.

Social
Social interactions with family, friends, neighbors, and chosen peer groups can be valuable for maintaining health. Personal contact by joining clubs, traveling, visiting friends and family, and engaging in intergenerational experiences like making quilts with elementary school children is beneficial for everyone it touches.

Spiritual
Living with a meaning and purpose in life, guided by personal values, is key to feelings of well-being and connection to the larger world. Group and individual faith-based activities, personal meditation, mindful exercise (yoga, tai chi), and experiencing nature can create the opportunity for spiritual growth.

Environmental
Surrounded by natural and man-made environments, good stewardship means respecting resources by choosing “green” processes that re-use and recycle goods. It also means ways to bring people into the natural environment and encourage active living through urban and property designs emphasizing walking paths, meditation, vegetable gardens and similar options.

Hear From Our Residents

I will always remember and cherish our welcome here at Plymouth Harbor. My upstairs neighbor stepped in as we were knee-deep in boxes and brought a small vase of flowers and a note. The note welcomed us and invited us to three different evenings of cocktails and dinner with three different couples! It was just lovely!

Addie H., Resident since 2011

I didn’t know how much I would enjoy people in my own age group—I do very much. However, there are also many younger folk around. It’s a good balance! I am also very impressed by the variety of things to do, or not. The people from maintenance are so skilled and have been of great help customizing my apartment.

Cynda G., Resident since 2013

Plymouth Harbor is a church-sponsored, not-for-profit community of distinction for older adults, committed to providing the most positive aging experience possible for its residents.